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West Powellhurst Elementary School

The Traffic Calming Program (TCP) undertook a School Safety Project (SSP)
in the Fall of 1994 on the local streets adjacent to West Powellhurst Elementary
School.

The goal of a SSP project is to enhance the safety of the younger
pedestrians associated with the elementary school by reducing the 85th
percentile speed closer to the posted speed limit. Speed bumps are the only
device considered for streets like SE 115th, 116th and 118th Avenue, which are
classified as Local Service Streets, are not transit or primary fire response
routes and have vehicle volumes between 400 and 1700 vehicles per day. Speed
bumps have proven to be effective tools to reduce vehicle speed without
impacting access. It is not an intended goal to reduce traffic volume on
low-volume Local Service Streets.

SE 115th, 116th and 118th Avenues are North-South Local Service Streets.
Powell Boulevard, a Neighborhood Collector, is at the South end and Division
Street, a Major City Traffic Street, is at the North. SE 112 is the closest
parallel Neighborhood Collector Street. SE 115th, 116th and 118th Avenues serve
a predominantly single-family neighborhood in a rural-urban area of Portland. SE
116th Avenue provides the primary vehicle access to West Powellhurst Elementary
School.

Open House

All residents along the project streets were invited to an open house
September 28, 1994 in order to review and comment on the proposed bump
installation. Twenty households were represented at the open house as well as
the school principal. The majority of those who attended expressed approval for
the proposed project. There was concern expressed about the size of the bumps as
well as fears they would reduce property values. There is no petition or ballot
requirement for School Safety Projects as they are a City Council mandated
activity.

Performance

The project speed bumps were constructed in October of 1994 by
the Bureau of Maintenance.

Speeds**
Before

Speeds**
After

Volume
Before

VolumeAfter

SE 115th

37 mph

29 mph

793

725

SE 116th

30 mph

26 mph

388

247*

SE 118th

32 mph

28 mph

350

381

*Count made after end of school session. **Highest 85th
Percentile.

As the table shows speeding has been greatly reduced on SE 115th, 116th,
and 118th. The highest 85th percentile speeds are now much closer to the posted
speed of 25 miles per hour. Actual 85th percentile speeds ranged widely
depending on proximity to a bump. Speeds at the bumps measured between 17 and 22
mph.

From the table it can be seen that the volume of traffic has not been
greatly effected. The drop in volume on SE 116th is most likely due to school
being out for the summer. A follow-up count will be made next Fall as a check.

Traffic Calming on SE 115th, 116th, and 118th Avenues has been successful
and the safety of the school children has been enhanced.